The Princess and the Mystery Prize

Happy Waitangi Day, Kiwis! To non-Kiwis, Waitangi Day is more or less the July 4th of NZ. One year, I’ll get into the history of it, but not this year, as I have to talk about a Princess and a Mystery Prize today.

The Homies

The Homies Green winner was the lovely Margaret Roach over at A Way to Garden. She’s a fount of knowledge about all things growing and I’ve added her blog to my RSS and since I’m a newbie gardener I’ll be going there to learn. She also has a new book coming out on the 23rd called “And I shall find some peace there: trading the fast lane for my own dirt road.” Believe me when I say she is our kind of people. We’ve emailed back and forth and I could feel the warmth. Please do check out her blog and her book.

That being said, the Frugal Kiwi came in SECOND place. As any New Zealander would tell you, placing second shows the true Kiwi ideal. One gave a good performance without being so showy as to actually win, which might give people the wrong idea that you are a bit up yourself. Laugh if you must, but this is the proper national spirit.

A heap of new people stopped by and learned about the Kiwi AND if I didn’t win the Queen spot, I’m definitely the Princess in the category.

I had a bit of a dance around in the backyard with my recycled paper bag Princess crown. Of COURSE it exists! The chickens were MOST impressed. Or ran. I forget which. I was dancing after all and wearing my floaty skirt. What the chickens were doing, even if that happened to be cowering behind the rhododendron, wasn’t my biggest concern. Ed the Cat thought I’d gone mad, but then he would.

The Mystery Prize Winner

I mentioned on Facebook that I’d hand out the Mystery Prize even if I came in second. I did and so I will. Random.org has chosen…

Laura of Our Wee Farm as the Mystery Prize winner. Laura you are the winner of a coveted Felted Kiwi Shaggy Baggy worth a whopping NZ$250. What can I say? All that spinning around wearing my Princess crown made me lose my head a bit.

Many thanks to everyone who voted for the Kiwi in either or both of the rounds of the Homies. Winning would have been fantastic, but knowing that so many people made the effort to vote, rally votes from friends and family and support me during the Homies is amazing. Thanks folks.

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enjoying imagining the dance, the chickens’ and ed’s reactions, and the crown. congrats on the bloggie nomination as well — I hope you have another crown in readiness.Kerry recently posted..Celtic Connections 2011- images

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Congratulations on your new Princess status. I so know what you mean about the kiwi tall poppy thing – kind of funny 🙂 and I bet the chickens were secretly loving your dance, paper bag and all.
I can’t thank you enough for the amazing Prize. To say I am thrilled is an understatement. Even more so as I recently learned felting and know how absolutely fantabulous the shaggy baggy is. I can make a scarf for goodness sake!
So when I pick up my amazing gift, should I curtsey? Bow down? Or will a simple handshake suffice?!
and a big “YEH” for random.org!

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Does this mean that people are now to address me as Queen Margaret? Sounds vaguely right. (Tee hee.) I promise not to act a bit up myself during my reign.
Seriously, though, I am glad to have “met” you, too, as a consequence of our nominations, and do so thank you for being in touch.